Homeward Bound

Monday morning, we checked out of the airbnb and moved to the cabin for a night.  We went out to Breckenridge for the afternoon, we did some shopping and playing at the play areas and got ice cream!  Then we headed back to the cabin to spend some time with Grandpa.   

That night we had a fire outside and roasted marshmallows and sang songs together around the campfire.  It was cute when after we had been singing for a bit, Kai turned to Sandi and asked why she hadn't taught her all those songs!  My kids had mostly learned them from me and from the Wee Sing songs, so we all had fun together and did a bunch of call and response songs so Kai and Taz could sing too!  

Tuesday, we cleaned and packed up and headed back down to Denver.  We stopped at Tiny Town on the way back in to town and got ice cream and walked around and took pictures all over the place.  

On Wednesday, I took the kids to the Butterfly Pavillion for a bit, then we met up with Grandpa for dinner before heading back to begin the process of packing up and getting things ready for the drive home the next day.  

Thursday and Friday were spent driving home - we made it in good time - having teenage drivers to help with the drive is awesome!  We stayed at Grandma and Grandpa Jones' house on the way back, but we didn't get to see them - they were in bed by the time we got in, and had to leave early in the morning before we got up.  

Saturday was back to the usual - water polo and friends and family time.  

Church was wonderful on Sunday and the afternoon was full of games and visiting with friends and taking things easy.  

We did a bit of birthday celebrating on Saturday too.   Since both Anna and David had their birthdays on the trip, we had David's birthday dinner of Sushi and a Minecraft cake made by Dan and Anna.  Then presents.  Anna got ducky stuff and David got a snuggie.  So we did a snuggie buddy pic

The End....

Of school.  School is out for summer and it feels strange since weather is still pretty cool most days.  The boys had fun playing together after school and then we went to our friends house to hang out and play.  David was apparently getting picked on by another boy while we were there and showed himself a younger brother used to tussling with bigger boys before it got broken up.   

Evie and Aaron had to go to school on the regular bus instead of the seminary bus and they were a bit unsure at first!  LOL  But they finished things up and school is done.  

Aaron had some struggles this year and will be taking summer school to make up credits.  Also he got caught cheating on his Spanish final.  So we had a long talk about integrity and choices.  And then he lost his phone privelages until after our Colorado trip.  So since then, he's been reading and playing with his siblings.  It's great! 

On Tuesday, I got to go play water polo with the teenagers and masters women.  It was a lot of fun and we had a great time!  

On Saturday, the kids did a youth temple walk down to the Portland Temple.  The weather was nice and cool - perfect for being outside walking!  

Mom went to water polo and then in the afternoon we had fun playing and hanging out.  Eileen got home on Monday and it's nice to have the whole family back together again!  I can't believe that it's almost time for our Colorado trip!!  In the evening, Mom went to Open Polo - turn out was good, but none of the kids came - Evie had a party with friends, Aaron was tired and Anna was sick.  

Church was wonderful - Father's Day biscuits for Dan and a new game.  After, we went to the Blanchard's house for a little open house for Lydia before she leaves on her mission.  Then we came home for dinner.  In the evening, we had a new member over for scripture study with the sister missionaries, and we had a great time talking and learning from each other and being a little silly too.  :)  

The Beginning of the End

This week has been crazy busy with all the end of school year stuff.  James has been crocheting and crafting like crazy and he just amazes me with his creativeness and talent.  He sees something he wants and just makes it - no pattern, just making it up as he goes.  

Thursday night was the Mountainside Commencement Ceremony.  Anna had 3 different ceremonies she could have attended this year - the Mountainside commencement, the Early College High School commencement and the PCC ceremony for finishing her Associates.  She chose to not attend any of them.  So while Aaron and Evelyn were at the graduation playing with the band, Anna did not go.  That being said - she is officially done with High School - though not quite done with her college classes.  :)  It's funny because a lot of her friends are just floored that she doesn't want to participte in all the pomp around graduation, but she is an amazing woman with a bright future ahead of her!  

Also on Thursday was James' choir concert.  It was a lot of fun to watch and the kids all did an amazing job!  Anna came with us and we loved watching him perform.  He did a great job and after, he seemed to be really excited and floating on cloud 9 - though he says he hated choir.  lol - He does sure seem to like performing sometimes though.  

Friday, David had a fun little grade party outside during school.  I went to hang out with him and we had a great time.  He got to have ice cream, get his face painted, decorate sunglasses and sea shells, play with bubbles and other fun games.  We had a great time together.  He especially loved his shark eating his eye.  He has loved this school year and loved his teacher Ms. Goodspeed.  
 

Friday included water polo, and a birthday party for David and yard work and lots of fun.  

In the afternoon, we had a great time at the ward BBQ.  We hung out with friends and ate yummy food and had a great time.  The weather was beautiful for being outside and it was a blast!  

Sunday, we went down to Emmalee and Johnny's ward for their baby blessings.  We got to have fun with family and hold adorable babies!!  Evelyn was especially smitten!  

After we went back to their house for lunch.  We had a great time talking with family!  Aleah came and it's been awhile since we got to see her - it was so great to see her and chat with her some!  We've had a mostly quiet afternoon some games and food and family time.  And now ready for bed after a long day and a long week! 

Going so Fast....

Monday was Memorial Day, the kids had no school, so in the afternoon, we took the kids who could come and some friends and went down to George Rogers park.  It was a bit chilly to be IN the water, but perfectly nice to be ON the water.  We had fun with our little kayak and the paddle board.  The kids had fun digging holes in the sand and finding cool rocks.  It was busy, but not crazy busy, so we had a nice afternoon together enjoying the sun and the beauty around us!  

Eileen is having a fabulous time with Grandma.  They have been doing escape rooms and other fun stuff together.  She is getting so spoiled, but I'm so glad she is having this time and building these bonds!  

Evelyn and Aaron had a tournament this weekend.  The girls had no subs, so Evie got a LOT of play time, but she had fun and the girls worked SO hard!  The boys played well and won their first two games.  They lost the second two, but played well and hard.  

Saturday, began as usual.  In the morning, I took Evelyn to her games, then went to scrimmage with the masters.  Dan was busy with the boys - including taking Aaron down to his games.  Then we went down to Hagg Lake with some friends.  We spent a couple hours chatting and out on the water.  There wasn't really a shore line to play on, and what there was was covered in people fishing, but once you got out on the water, it was nice and clear and not too busy. 

In the evening, we came home for dinner and getting Aaron from his games.  Evie went to hang out with friends, and then at night, Anna and I went to open polo.  Water polo numbers have been low all week, but we still had fun!  

Church was wonderful!  Then in the evening, Anna had her seminary graduation!  She was also playing the piano and she did a musical number on her Euphonium with Valery accompanying.  She did an amazing job and we are so proud of the amazing woman she is becoming!!